The US announces $199mn as aid for Rohingyas

The United States announced nearly $199 million in additional humanitarian assistance to address the needs of Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and the region, including over $129 million through USAID and nearly $70 million from the U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya yesterday announced the funding at a Rohingya-focused event during the UN General Assembly High-level week

USAID’s assistance includes funding from the bipartisan National Security Supplemental as well as $78 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will help to purchase, ship, and distribute approximately 52,200 metric tons of food commodities from American farmers to approximately 610,000 refugees experiencing acute food insecurity in Bangladesh. It will also support the International Rescue Committee, UNICEF, and the UN World Food Program to provide food, nutrition, and protection assistance to Rohingya refugees and host communities.

The U.S. government has provided more than $2.5 billion for the regional Rohingya response since August 2017, including more than $2.1 billion in Bangladesh.